Characterization of a putative murine Mum2 ortholog and its role in meiosis

• Antragsteller: Dr. Rupert Öllinger
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Zellbiologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2006 bis 2008
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 22257934

Meiosis is the central differentiation process in germ cell development leading to haploid cells. The first step of meiosis is premeiotic S-phase (meiS) where not only DNA is replicated but as well DNA double strand breaks are induced and specification of meiotic chromosome axes takes place. This remodelling of chromosomal architecture is vital for pairing, synapsis and recombination of homologous chromosomes and finally ensures reductional chromosome segregation. Regulation of mammalian meiS is largely unknown. In S. cerevisiae an important regulatory factor of meiS is Mum2, a protein essential for pre-meiotic DNA replication and in mum2 mutants subsequent processes are impaired, too. We have identified the putative murine ortholog to Mum2, mMum2, on the basis of its expression in meiotic germ cells and sequence homology. This gives us the opportunity to analyse early events of meiotic progression of mammals. Our project is to characterize the function of the putative mMum2 protein in meiosis in mice. To this end, we plan to determine the temporal and spatial expression pattern of mMum2. Moreover, we intend to study the effects of loss of mMum2 function in germ cell development by the generation and characterization of knockout mice. The results of our research will lead to further understanding of mMum2 function, of specific differences between meiS and mitotic S phase and of the influence of meiS to subsequent events of meiotic progression.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Internationaler Bezug: Großbritannien
• Gastgeber: Professor Dr. Howard Cooke